Heliox Therapy Overview

Introduction

• Heliox therapy: medical treatment with helium and oxygen mixture
• Used to aid in managing various respiratory conditions
• Overview of its importance in Respiratory Care

Composition and Properties

• Heliox: mixture of helium and oxygen
• Helium: present in the atmosphere in small quantities
• Mixture Properties:
  • Density: nearly six times lower than atmospheric air
  • High thermal conductivity
  • Non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, no lasting effects on human organs

Mechanism of Action

• Lower Density:
  • Results in significantly lower turbulence, especially in distal portions of the lung
  • Leads to greater laminar flow and lower Airway resistance
• Increased Flow Rates:
  • Up to 50% increase during Heliox inhalation
  • Effective even with restricted airflow (e.g., obstructive lung diseases)

Clinical Applications

• Airway Obstructions:
  • Used since the 1930s
  • Conditions: asthma, acute vocal cord dysfunction, bilateral vocal cord paralysis, intrinsic/extrinsic tracheal and endobronchial diseases
• Croup in Children: reduces Croup scores, avoids intubation
• COPD:
  • Reduces work of breathing
  • Improves exercise performance
  • Reduces dynamic hyperinflation
• Asthma: improves clinical asthma scores in children with acute asthma
• Lower Airway Obstruction: used in pneumonia, bronchiolitis, cystic fibrosis

Heliox Composition

• 80:20 Mixture:
  • 20% oxygen, 80% helium
  • For patients not needing supplemental oxygen but benefiting from reduced Airway resistance and improved gas exchange
• 70:30 Mixture:
  • 30% oxygen, 70% helium
  • For patients needing a higher oxygen concentration
• Caution: lower overall oxygen content, careful use in patients requiring high oxygen concentrations

Conclusion

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• Reminder: Informational purposes only, not a substitute for medical advice

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